Material-handling apparatus



Nov. 27, 1923 1,475,684

A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 10sheets-sheet 1 Ewan? JMA flaw V/ m f Nov.

A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12 1920 10 Sheet 1'.3

Nov. 27, 19:23 1,475,684

. A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLIfiG APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 10Sheets-Sheet 5 vimfiw few 5, WWW MAM Nov.- 27, 1923 1,475,684

- -A. F. CASE I MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 1QSheets$heet 4 Nov. 27, 1923 1,475,684

I A. F. cAsE- MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 10Sheets-Sheet 5 ,E/z 21871127 7 I h m M514 g I mza .Nov. 27, 19231,475,684 A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12/1920 10sheets-sheet 6 Irma: fm? I 7 NOV. 27, 1 23 I 1,475,684

A, F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 10Sheets-Sheet "Nov; 27 1923 1,475,684 A, F. CASE 1 MATERIAL HANDLJ INGAPPARATUS Filed April 12, 1920 10 sheets-sheet 8 Ewen 02 N0vL 27 {1923A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed A 'rii 12. 1920 1 oShts-Sheet 9 Nov. 27 .1923 1,475,684 A. F. CASE MATERIAL HANDLINGAPPARATUS Filed April 12. 1920 '10 sheets-Shae; 10

Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR F. CASE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'ASSIGNOB, TO THE VIELLMAN-SEAVERMOR- GAN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,-'OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

- LEATEBIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Application filed Aprii 12, 1920. Serial No. 373,130.

This invention relates to an apparatus for.

handlingmatcrial such as coal, adapted to receive loaded cars and todump the-contents thereof into boats or other receiving apparatus, andis adapted particularly for installation on piers alongside of which oneor moreboats are adapted to be brought to .be loaded.

The principal object otthe invention is to provide an apparatus oft-hischaracter which is more efficient than the car dumpers and boat loadingapparatus heretofore used, and more economical-than the latter, first,in operation, particularly in regard to the amount of labor or number ofmen required to operate the apparatus and to control the loaded andempty cars, and, second, in the respect that it efi'ects a great savnginspace by the elimination of longand expensive approaches and run-offgrades, which heretofore have been required with the customary boatloading dumpers.

Further, the invention aims to'p'rovide a multiple unit car handling anddumping apparatus with separate units for receiving,

dumpingand removing the cars, so arranged and constructed that theperformance'oi one of the three functions is notdelayed by any. of theot..er-two,=t-hns permitting the carsto be handled at a veryrapid rate.

The invention aims also toprovide an apparatus havi g the advantagesabove enumerated, ane a iturth-cr iuniortant advantage, that it iscapable of-discharging thcrial into boats at bothcoal or other ma: sidesof the pier, thus making it possible to either load two boatssimultaneously or succ ively without requiring that the apparatus hehehl idle while a-loaded boat is being'removed and a-second boat" to beloaded is brought into position for loading, and to accomplish this withasingle dumper having a single rumvayinstead of separate andindependenth operating car dumpers, one

use; li 1g.

for each side of the pier, and provided with two runways, inclinedapproaches, and runoflgrades which two car dumpcrs wouldrequire.

The above, and numerous other more specific objects which will appear inthe follow ing description are attained by the present invention, whichmay be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinationsand arrangements of parts anddetails of construction which will bedescribed in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings which show-one embodiment of theinventlon, Fig. 1 1s a top plan View of the apparatus on a pier, and inposition for loading two boats arranged on opposite sides thereof, theparts being shown for the most part, conventionally; Fig. 2 is a sideviewof the three units of which the invention is composed, the unitat'the let-tbeing whatmay" is to lower the emptied cars and to-shittthem onto the track by which they are removed from the pier; Fig. 3.isan end view of the elevator showing tracks not only for the apparatusof which the elevator is a part, but ota. duplicate set of tracks :torthe second apparatus which can belocatcd further along the-pier shouldthe useof such second apparatus be desired; Fig. i is a similar-viewofthe car dumping and boa i loading unit, showing the material rece :ingand distributing part of the apparatus at the right hand side inposition for loading a boat, while a similar apparatus atthe left handside of theunit is elev tcd as when not in Figs. (1. 7 an l- S arerespectively a top view, a side view, and an end view of arolling cardumper, which ispreferably employed. and which is capable of rolling ineither di 'rection car receiving position so as to dump the COllLQlltSon either side of its central position; Fig. 8 is a side view of one ofthe'car clamps; Fig. 8 is topplan view of a part of the same; Figs. 9 to13 are somewhat oiagrammatic cross sectional views of the rolling cradleof the-dumping 5 is a similar view oi the lowcrator unit, Figs. 9 and 10showing particularly mechanism utilized for lifting car clamps withwhich the cradle is provided, as the cradle is being restored to normalposition; Fig. 11 showing how the car clamps are pulled down against thetop of the car to hold the car onto the platen of the cradle when thecradleof the load d car is being rolled in either direction from mid ornormal position; and Figs. 12 and 18 showing mechanism with which thecradle is pro vided for shifting laterally the platen of the cradle whenthe cradle is being rolled either from or to mid position so that theplaten and car will be gradually shifted away from normal position untilthe side of the car rests against the car blocking on the side of thecradle as the cradle starts to roll from mid position, and so that theplaten and the empty car will be gradually brought to normal position atthe center of the cradle when the cradle is being rolled back LO its midposition after the dumping operation; Fig. 14 is an enlarged crosssectional view through the cradle, showing particularly the car clampelevating mechanism; Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view substantiallyalong the line 151.5 of Fig. 14:, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows; Fig. 16 is a top plan View of the car clamp elevatingmechanism shown in Figs. 14 and 15; Fig. 17 is a View similar to Fig.14, showing particularly the platen shifting mechanism; Fig. 18 is asectional view substantially along the line 18-18, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectionalView substantially along the line 1919 of Fig. 17, looking downward.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents a pier on which theapparatus constituting the subject matter of this invention ispreferably, although not necessarily installed, and alongside the pierare shown two boats 11, into the hatches 11 of which the materialhereinafter for convenience termed coal, is loaded, the boats being onopposite sides of the pier as shown. In the respect that the coalhandling apparatus constituting the subject matter of this invention iscapable of loading a boat on eitherside of the pier, or the two boats onboth sides, it may be aptly termed a duplex loading mas chine. V V

The duplex loading machine preferably consists of three units, which forconvenience will be described as the elevator A, the duinper B, and thelowerator C, which are preferably linked together by suitable couplingmeans 12, shown in Fig. 2, so that all three units may be simultaneouslymoved lengthwise of the pier. The three units of the machine are mountedon trucks 13 which travel along the same runway, composed of suitabletracks 14, which are arranged near the opposite sides of the pier, andpreferably extend the full length of the same. These trucks willpreferably be provided with driving means so that the machine as a wholecan be moved along the runway and properly positioned to discharge coalor the like into the boat-s,.it being intended that the machine be movedas the loading pro grosses, so that the loading and distributingelements of the dumper unit B will be moved from hatch to hatch asrequired to properly distribute material in the boats.

To handle the loaded and empty cars conveyed to and from the multipleunit duplex. loading machine, two service quired, one a track 15, forthe loaded and a second tracl; 16 for the empty cars. Additionally, lprefer to employ a third track 17 which is to be occupied by a pusher orhaulage car which is shown at 18, and which can be electricallyoperated, if desired, the track for the car 18 being preferably locatedbetween the tracks 15 and 16, and the primary function of the car 18being to push the loaded cars up onto the elevating platform of theelevator A, though if desired, this same car may be utilized to shiftthe empty cars along the track 16.

The three tracks, 15, 16 and 17 for the machine shown in the drawings,are located at the right hand side; of the center line of the pier, butas it may be desired to employ two of the multiple unit duplex machineson the same pier and movable along the same runway tracks 14-, I haveshown at the left hand side of the pier a duplicate set of tracks 15, 16and 17 for accommodating a similar multiple unit duplex machine locatedfurther out along the pier. By reference to Figs. 3, 4; and it will beseen that the three units A, B and C are in the form, of portals whichpermit the passage of cars on the tracks 15 and 16" to the further orsecond multiple unit machine so that eaci machine can be served withoutin the least interfering witn the operation of the other.

Considering next the structure and function of the three units A, and C.It is apparent from what has preceded, that the function of the elevatorA'is to raise the loaded cars from the pier level to the necessaryheight for discharging the contents of the cars into the boats. For thispurpose the unit A, or elevator, is provided with a supporting structure20. and a movable platform 21 having rails on which loaded cars,indicated at 22, are adapted to be run. This platforn'i moves up anddown along guideways 28, which are slightly inclined, as indicated inFig, 3, and may be operated by any suitable mechanism located in thestructure of the machine, but preferably by properly arranged cables 24,leadin" from the motor driven winding drums 25 oi oi sheaves at the topof, the supporting structure 20 to tracks are re the platforni.Counterweights 26 are also provided for the purpose of reducing the"movable up and down along one side or the structure *and being supportedby cables 26 which passabout upper stationary sheaves and from-thelatter extend down to and are attachedto the platform.

Connected to, and traveling with the elevator' is an inclined approach20 (sec particularly F havingrail points which register with the- "ailsof the loaded car track 15on the pier. When the platform 21 is inlowered position, the rails of the platform register with the rails ofthe approach 20 so that a loadedcar can be pushed up the approach by thehaulage car 18 which travels along the track 17 as alreadyklescribed.

- The loaded car having been placed on the elevating platform, thelatter is raised to the'upper positionot its travel, at which point thecarrails of the plattorni' are in register with,- or in alignment withthe rails of a run-off girder 27 which extends from the elevating unitto the dumping unit and over 'which'the car passes to thedu'niper. Forthe purpose of shifting the loaded car from the platform of theelevatoracross the run-offJ-girder 27 into the cradle of the dumper, "the upperpart of the elevator structure 20 is provided with a pusher or haulagecar 28' (see Figs. 2 and 3), which may be electrically operated, andtravels along a track which is at the side of the rails of the liftingplatform 21 when it is in elevated position, this being indicated inFig.

Considering neXt the dumping unit 13, this unit includes a supportingstructure 30 at the upper part of which is a car receiving cradle 31,when in its normal upright and. car receiving position is at the centerof the structure (as shown in Fig.4) in line with the run-oflt' girder2'7, over which the car is pushed from the platform of the elevator, asjust described.

Preferabl the cradle which is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and S, and alsodiagramniatically in other figures, is of the rolling type. horizontalrunway is provided so cradle may be rolled in either from car receivingposition.

Preferably the torn] and shifting mechanism of the cradle aresubstantially as illustrated and claimed in iny prior application.Serial. No. 317,711, filed irugust 15, 1919. and as the details ofconstruction of the cradle are not claimed herein, its structure will bereferred to only briefly. This cradle consists of a steel structure,substantially U shaped in cross section, having parallel sides 3F, and abase 31", while at the top or opposite tothe base there is an open slotor mouth 31 extending thelength'of the cradle through which thematerialis discharged whenthe cradle and car are rolled over'by rolling thecradle in either direction. The ends of the cradle structure aresurrounded by rings 32 which roll on horizontal tracks 33, (-see iggd);'Pre'lerably power is applied to roll the cradle in either direction inthe manner and by the means described in detailin'my prior application,and which briefly stated comprises an upper traveling frame 34;, whichis'supported on top out the cradle and has rollers 35 engagingits ends,and having power driven pinions 36 which engage gears 37, which alsosurround the ends'of'the cradle structure alongside the ringg32 of whichthe gears 37'may be a part. As described in my prior application, thepinions 36 engage upper horizontal racks extending crosswise of therunway at the same time that"they engage the' gears 37 surrounding thecradle, and the gears 37 also engage lower horizontal racks along thetracks 33. Thus by this mechanism the cradle can be rolled from midposition to dump ing position in either directionso as to dump thecontents of the car into 'the receiving means shortly to be referred to,andmay then be rolled backagain to midor car re ceiving position.

The car rails of the cradle are attached to a platen 38 supported in thecradle structure on'ro'llers which permitsidewise movement of the platenwhich. is necessary in order that the side of the car maybe supportedasit and the cradle are rotated to discharge the contents of the-car. Themovementof this platen is governed by shifting levers which will bedescribed later. It may be' mentione'd at this point also, that as'thecradlerolls over," the car is held down onto therails of theplaten bycarclamps 39 which are adapted to engage the'top of the car, and" which areraised andlowered in a manner to be subsequently described. As thecradle is rolled, the car is rotated and carried laterally; and itscontents is discharged into either one of two receiving bins 40,dependingion the direction in which the cradle is'rolled, which binsarelocated in proper position at opposite sides of the supportingstructure 30 of the dun'iping unit. During this rotation. the'platen isshiited sidewise in the direction of rotation untilthe side of the carrest-s against block-- ing 4-.l on the adjacent side of the cradle,atter which the car clamps automatically set and hold thecar securely inplace until the contents is discharged and tie cradle has been rolledback with the empty an structure and a platform 44- on which the emptycar is adapted to be run. This platform travels up and down along guides45 which are somewhat more inclined than the guides 28 for the platformof the elevator, since the cars from the platform 44 are deposited onthe empty track 16 which is laterally outside of the loaded track 15.The platform 44 is moved up and down by mechanism 46 which may be thesame as the mechanism of the elevating unit, this mechanism includingsuitable cables passing around properly positioned sheaves and connectedto the platform, and as with the case of the platform of the elevator,the platform 44 has connected'to it counterweights 47.

The lower part of the frame of the lowering unit has a discharge incline48, (see particularly Fig. 2) which incline has rails which registerwith the rails of the empty track 16, and with the rails of the loweringplatform when the latter is in its lowermost position. The cars arepushed off the platform of the lowering unit down the incline 48 by asmall pusher car 49, (see 2) which like the pusher or haulage carspreviously referred to, may be electrically operated, and preferablytravels over the car rails of the platform 44, or if desired, alongspecial car rails.

I will next revert to the dumping unit and describe certain detailfeatures briefly, as the specific details of these features are not perse claimed in this application.

Considering" first the mechanism here shown for transferring thematerial from the bins 40 to the hatches of the boats 11, it will beobserved by reference particularly to Fig. 4, that material is conveyedfrom each bin by vertical chutes 50, the delivery of'the material intothe chutes being preferably controlled by gates indicated at 5O at thebottom of the bins. These chutes may be, and preferably are composed oftelescopic sections. as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the effectivelength of the chute can be varied as desired, and soas to permit thelaterally extending part of the loading apparatus to be swung toinoperative position shown at the left hand side of Fig. 4, whereas atthe right hand side of Fig.

the chute 50 is shown extended with the entire loading apparatusincluding the parts to be referred to presently in position fordistributing material into a hatch of one of the boats.

From the chute 50 the material is discharged onto a conveyor shown bydotted lines at 51, supported in a boom 52. The boom is pivoted at itsinner end so that it can be swung up and down by hoisting mechanism 53and cables 53" connected to the outer end of the boom, and the reach ofthe boom is preferably adjustable sothat material can be properlydischarged into boats of varying widths, while the inner end of the boomis adjustable as to heightto accommodate different heights of boats.This arrangement permits of proper adjustment of the outer end of theboom to suit working conditions and also permits the boom and the partssupported by it to be raised to out-ofservice position so that it willclear the rigging of boats. The boom conveyor 51 delivers material to atelescopic chute 54 suspended from the outer end of the boom. Suitablemeans will be provided for extending or collapsing the chute v54 as wellas for swinging it in a vertical plane in order that the distance of itslower end from the face of the pier may be varied.

The lower end of the telescopic chute 54 is provided with a trimmer 55,for distributing the material in the hold of' the boat. One portion ofthe trimmer forms an elbow 55 which changes the direction of thedescending material, deflecting the discharge to an approximatelyhorizontal direction onto a conveyor belt 55 forming a part of thetrimmer. This conveyor will be operated at a comparatively high speedand acts to accelerate the velocity of the material so that it isprojected to a considerable distance from the chute. The trimmer beltand its driving means are mounted on a hinged frame,

pivoted at 55 to the elbow section in such a manner that it can beretracted to a position which allows the material to discharge directlyinto the boat without passing from the belt 55 and the entire trimmingdevice is suspended from the lower end of the chute 54 by a swivelbearing so that it may be rotated on the axis of the chute so as todischarge the material in any direction.

Though I have shown only one form of apparatus for delivering materialfrom the bins to the boats and for distrilimting the material in thehatches, I wish it to be understood that any other snitable mechanismfor this purpose may be employed.

Reverting next to the car clamps 39, a series of these clamps areemployed, four being shown in Fig. 6, each preferably having theconstruction shown in Figs. 8 and 8 As shown in these figures, eachclamp is composed of a. cross bar 39 which is adapted to rest on thegtopof the car which is to he held onto the platen otthe cradle, and at theends of the bar, castir 'e r-ifi which are designed to slide np andnownin guide-ways on the inner sides 31 of the cradle.

hen the cradle is in normal uprightpor sition, the clamps are elevatedind are held in elevated position by 11169.3 niinrnext to be referredto, butiwhen the car is rolledtrom normal. position in either direction,the clamps are pulled down onto thetop ofthe car in the cradle, andexert suthcient pressure en the car to hold it in place during thedumping operation, by means of a series of counterweights 57, (see Figs.t and 11) one counterweight being provided for each car clamp. Thesccounterweights move up and down on the center plane of the dumping unitas shown in Fig. 4, or in a plane directly .beneatlrthe center line ofthecradle when in its centralcar receiving position. 'lheends ot atwo-part cable 58 are attached tow the counterweight and, pass upwardlythere gom between two sheaves 59 (see particularly Fig. located in thestationary part of the car duniper frame and between twosiniilar sheaves6.0, carried in the lower part ot' the rolling cradle, From thesesheaves the two parts of the cradle pass in opposite directions to andaronnd deflect.- ing sheaves 61 also carried by thelower part of thecradle near theparallel sides 31 thereot. lhen the two parts of. thecable pass upwardly along the inner sides of the side walls 31 of thecradle through the castings 39 of the clampand around sheaves 52 lo-(ratedv in the upper portions of the castings, concentric with theconnections of the. cross member 39 of the clamp with the castings 39",andthen across the top of the cross member 39 of the clamp, as clearlyshown in Fig. 11. Thus each cable forms a loop which extends around theclamp and around the car when it is on the platen oi thecradle, down tothe counterweight..

The clamps are normally held up out of engagement with the car (when thecradle is in, normal position) by means of clamp litting devices. eachassociated with one of the clamps, which devices operate auton'laticallyas the cradle is revolved to its initial or normalposition, theselifting devices serving not only to litt the clamps when the cradle isrestored to normal position, but automatically permitting the clamps todescend when the cradle is revolved from normal position. Each clamplifting device ormechanisnris located atthe bottom of the cradle, belowits associated clamp, and each includes a set of arms (i l, 65, 66 and67 arranged in the form of a pantograph supported and pivoted at 67 atthe bottom of the cradle structure and on the center line thereof. Eachpantograph is flattened as the cradle is being restored to normalposition, and is widened, or permitted. to open through the medium. of aroller 68 at the junctionot the lower arms 66 and 67 of the pantograph,and engaginga horizontal track or platform 69; ;The open: ing andclosing of the pantograph shit'tsfa pair ot gear segments 70 supportedon shafts connecting the arms (3. L ancl-66,.,and 65 and 37, whichsegments are fixed with respectto and are given a rotative movement withthe upper arms (i-l and 65 as the pantographis opened or closed, andthis movement causes the rotation of twoflpinions 71, which. are en.-gaged by the segments 70, which pinions are on short shafts 72 carriedbythe lower arms l (i6rand (i7 oi? the pantograph, and provided withcable drums 73. Attached. to these drums are cables 72 a which extendinopp osite directions around sheaves 'ltatthabottom ot the cradlestructure, and.thenaipwardly alongv the outersides of, theside ,walls31ot the cradle, aronndsheaves 75 near thetop thereof, (see Fig. 15) ,thenpart way around these sheaves, and down to lugsfifiextendingoutwardlyfrom the car clamp castings .39 which lu smoven and-down throu h e l eslots 7'!" in thesidewalls 31 of thecradla The operation ofthe clamp.lifting; mech,

,anism is :s follows .lVhen'Zthe. cradle is i normal or car receivingposition, the parts are in the position shown in 9 and lfl, and as thecradle rolls. to ,the ,right-or left, the roller 68 continues foratimeto-encage the track or platform 69, and the panto 'raph is permitted.to open in the' nanner indicated in Fig. 10., lt isgmovedtoward openposition by. the action of the counterweight 57 which at all times.exerts a downward pnllon the clamp and an upwardpull on the cables 73.As it is thus being opened,

and-theclamp is being lowered, the drums 73 are.rotated paying-out thecables-F32 and this allowsv thefclamp -to gradually descend under theaction of the counterwei h t.

As the. cradle-is restored to normal posit on, the rollerQS engagestheitrack orplatform 69, and gradually the cradle is movingto its normalposition the pantograph flattened by the. action of. the roller 68 onthe track or platform 69, andthis causes the'rotation oi the drums 73which windin the cable 73 and positively elevates the clamp'trom thecar. This sameaction takes place simultaneously with. all the-clamps,each of which is provided with itscwn counterweight, andwith its,,ownclamp littinp; mechanism as already explained i The next and lastfeature oi the mechanism of the dumper unit which I desire to .explaimisthe mechanism 'for shifting and controllingthe lateral moyementof theplaten as the cradle ,is being noved a fromand back to normal positionIt was, previously stated thatat the start ofthe turn;

similar spring 86 ing movement from normal position, the platen and theloaded car on it are moved laterally in the direction of rotation untilthe car rests against the blocking on the adjacent side of the cradle,and that as the cradle is restored to normal position, the platen andthe empty car are moved laterally to normal central position in thecradle so that another car can be pushed fro-1n the platform of theelevator onto the cradle, and the empty car pushed from the cradle ontothe platform of the lowerator. I provide at the lower side of and neareach end of the cradle, platen shifting mechanism shown in Figs. 7, 17,18 and 19, and diagrammatically in Figs. 12 and 13, these mechanismsbeing similar to each other and symmetrically disposed with reference tothe longitudinal center of the cradle. .Each mechanism consists of twounits adjacent to each other and operative in opposite directions. Forcon- .venience, parts composing one unit are designated by referencecharacters with the index a, and the similar parts of the other unit bysimilar reference characters with the index 2). Each shifting mechanismincludes two arms and 80 rotatably supported on a shaft 81 at the bottomof the cradle structure a distance below the platen. These arms extendupwardly from the shaft in nearly a vertical direction, but slightlyinclined with reference to each other, and at their upper ends they areforked. The upper forked end of arm 80 is connected by a pair of links82 to a sliding member 83 positioned on a guide rod 84% supported on thelower side of the cradle structure. Similarly the arm 80 of the otherunit is connected to. a sliding member 83 on a second guide rod 84(see'Fig. 18) secured to the platen. Extending downwardly through slotsin the bottom of the cradle structure are two abutments 85 and 85' whichare faced in opposite directions with respect to each other, and whichextend wlown from points directly above the two guide rods 84-" and St". one partly enveloping or straddling one rod, and the other partlyenveloping the other rod. l etween the sliding member 83 and thealnitment S5, is a, coil spring 86, and likewise between H e slidingmember 83 and its abutment is a It will be seen, there fore, that if thearm 80 as viewed in Fig. 17 is turned to the left, the spring 86 will becompressed, and by its action on the abutment 85 will move the platentoward the left, and that if the arm 80 is moved toward the right itwill. compress the associated spring 86* and by its action on theabutment 85 will move the platen toward the right.

At the lower ends of the arms 80 and 80 and concentric with respect totheir common supporting shaft 81 are two gear segments 87* and 87, thesesegments facing in op posite directions, and being fixed respectively tothe two arms. These segments are engaged by segments 88 and 88 mountedon two shafts 89 and 89 located on opposite sides of the center shaft81, and fixed to and adapted to turn with these segments are twosubstantially horizontal oppositely extending arms 90 and 90 provided attheir free ends with rollers 91 and 91*, which engage on a horizontaltrack or platform 92 tangent to the circular rings at the ends of thecradle.

It will be seen therefore, particularly by reference to Figs. 13 and 17,that if the cradle is rolled to the right, by the action of the roller91 on the track or platform 92, the arm 90" is in effect given acounterclockwise movement relative to the cradle, which through themeshing gear segments 88 and 87' imparts a clockwise movement to theupright arm 80, and the movement of this arm in the direction stated, istransmitted to the sliding member 83 and associated spring 86 and isexerted on the face of the abutment 85" moving it to the right, causingthe platen and the car on it to be moved in that direction. 'T hismovement of the platen, of course shifts the abutment 85 to the right,and thus through the spring 86, sliding member 83 and links 82' swingsthe arm 80 to the right or in clockwise direction, and the effect ofthis is to rotate the arm 90 in a counter-clockwise direction, but dueto the fact that the roller 91 is pressing on the track or platform 9?,this movement is permitted only at a rate dependent on the speed ofrotation of the cradle, and hence at the same time that the unitcomposed of the parts designated by the reference numerals having theindex Z) shifts the platen toward the right, the other unit controls orchecks the rate of movement of the platen so that it becomes impossiblefor gravity to cause a rapid movement of the platen and car toward theside of the cradle. Therefore. the movement is gradual until the car isbrought up against the car blocking When the car is rolled in the o'j.posite direction, the unit composed of the parts designated by referencecharacters with the index (it, causes the platen and. car to be shiftedto the left until the car rests against the blocking on the left handside of the cradle, while the parts composing the other unit control therate of movement.

Likewise when the car is being restored to normal position, when thecradle reaches a point such that the rollers re-engage the track 92, thetwo shifting units at each end of the car serve to restore the platenand empty car to normal position at the center of the cradle, and thistakes place gently or gradually, one unit at each end of. the car movingthe car and platen, and the other unit controlling its movement.

The operation of the platen shifting mechanism and of the car clampshitting mechanism is such that when the cradle is being rolled fromnormal. position with a loaded car, at. and adjacent the start ottherolling movement the platen and car are gradually shifted laterally inthe direction ofrotation until the car rests againstthe blocking: on theadjacent side ot tl1e cradle, and then the car clamps are lowered ontothe top of the car and hold the car onto the platen while the car isbeing dumped and through the major portion of the return movement of thecradle and car. Just eiore the cradle reaches its normal position theclamps are automatically litted i'rom thetop of the car, and then theplaten and car are mover. back to the normal. central position whichbrings the rails of the platen intoaligmnent with both run-otl girdersat opposite ends of the dumper structure.

As far as I am aware, I am the first to provide a rolling cradle with amovable car platen, together with mechanism by which as the car isrolled. the platen is gradually shitted to brine the car up against theside or the cradle whether the cradle is capable of being moved in onedirection from normal position; or in both directions from normalposition, and while the nn-achanism here shown may be employed toadvantage, the specific mechanismbywhich the platen is shifted andcontrolled in its movement may be other than that here shown.

in concluding the description of the apparatus constitutingthe subjectmatter of this invention, it might be mentionedrthat the run-oil girders27 and elQwhich respectively extend from theelevator to the dumping'unit, and from the dumpingunit. to the lowcrator are preferably pivotedrespectively at 27 and 27" to suitable parts on the ends oi thesupporting structure of the dumper. so that. when theplatforms arelowered, these run-oil girders will swing downward slightly, and whenthe platforn'is are elevated. they will engage the slightl lowered endsol' the girders, and lift them to horir zontal position. This willinsure that the. rails of the platforms ,ot' the elevator and loweratorwill always be in direct aligrnmeat with the rails oi. (therun-otlgrirders when it is desired to transfer a car, whether a loadedcar or an empty car from one unit to the other.

It is thought the operation of themachine will be understood from theforegoing description but by way of summary, it might be mentioned thatboth boats can be positioned along the pier betorethe loading,

starts. or the second boat can be positioned for loading while theloading of the first progresses. so that the operation of the machinewill not be delayed as would be t-he case it the second boat tobe-loaded could notbebrouprht to loading position until the removal oftheloaded boat..:

Thesloaded cars .are transferred one at a time from. the loaded track tothe platform of the elevating unit, but as soon as a car is transferred.from the elevator onto the cradle ofthe dm'nping unit, the platform ofthe elevator candescend for the next- .car, and when thedumpingroperation of one car is completed, the next loaded car can be inposition to be immediately pushed ontothe cradle of the dumper withoutany delayon account of the removal .of the empty car, since thelsolefunction of the lowering unit is to handle the empty cars and theplatform of the" lowering unit canbein position to receive the empty caras soon as the loading operation is completed. Thus with this mechanismthe cars can be handled. very rapidly-and .the transferring of materialfrom the cars to the boats can be accomplishedin a very eflioientmanner, and economically not only because the speed at which the carscan be handled but because less men are required to operate themachinethan are required with car d'umpers of usual construction,particularly't'or the handling and shiftingol the cars preparatory toand afterbeing received in the dumper. cradle. Additionally, as alreadyreferred to, there is a great saving of space, particularly on the bulkhead or in shore end of the pier,

since the long-approaches and take-offs :re-

quiredwiththe ordinary ear dumpersare eliminated, leaving very much moreavailable space for yard storage tracks.

lVhile' I have describedonly the preferred construction, many. changescanbe made in the arrangement I and construction of the parts withoutdepartingfrom the principal features of the invention, and possibly certain parts or. elements-could be eliminated without very materiallyaffecting the utility of other parts.

Having described my invention, I claim'- 1. A car dumping apparatuscomprising a traveling structure having an elevated cradle adapted toreceive and to turn loaded cars to dump the contents therefrom. incombination with a car elevating mechanism comprisinga movable platformadapted to re ceive a loaded car from a track and to elevate the same toa point such that it maybe moved from the platform onto the dumpingcradle.

2. A car dumping apparatus comprising a structure having a cradleadapted to receive and to turn loaded cars to dump the contentstherefrom, incombination with an elevator having a movable platformforlifting' loaded cars up to substantially the level of the cradle, anda lowerator having a movable platform for lowering the empty cars.

In a material handling apparatus, a car .dumper having-a cradle adaptedto receive loaded cars and for turning the same to dump the contentsthereof, in combination with means for bringing loaded cars onto thecradle of the damper, and a device for transferring the empty cars fromthe cradle to a receiving track beneath, comprising a platform on whichthe empty cars are adapted to be placed, and movable up and down betweenthe cradle and the track.

l. A multiple unit car handling apparatus consisting of a car dumper, anelevator and a lowerator, the dumper having a cradle for receiving andturning loaded cars, the elevator having means for lifting the loadedcars to substantially the level of the dumper cradle, and the loweratorhaving means for lowering the empty cars from substantially the level ofthe cradle to a receiving track beneath.

5. A multiple unit material handling apparatus including three wheeledstructures, and comprising a car dumper having a cradle for receivingand turning the loaded cars to dump the contents therefrom, an elevatorhaving a platform movable upwardly and downwardly in its structure forelevating'loaded cars to substantially the level of the cradle, and avlowerator having av platform for receiving the empty cars, and movableup and down in its structure to lower the empty cars to a receivingtrack beneath the machine.

6. In a multiple unit material handling apparatus, a dumping unitcomprising a structure with an elevated cradle adapted to receive loadedcars and to be turned to dump the contents therefrom, an elevating unitat one end of the dumping unit and comprising a structure havinga'platform movable up and down in the structure and adapted to elevateloaded cars to substantially the level of the dumper' cradle, meanscarried by the elevating unit for transferring cars from the platform tothe cradle of the dumping unit, and a lowering unit at the opposite-endof the dumping unit, and comprising a structure with a platform movableup and down therein and adapted to receive the empty cars from thedumping unit and to lower the same to a receiving track beneath.

7. In a multiple unit matenal. hamlliugapparatus, a dumping unitcomprising a. structure with an elevated cradle adapted to receiveloaded cars and to be turned to dump the contents therefrom, anelevating unit at one end of the dumping unit and comprising a structurehaving a platform movable up and down in the structure and adapted toelevate loaded cars to substantially the level of the dumper cradle. anda lowering unit at the opposite end of the dumping unit, and comprisinga structure with a platform movable up and down therein and adapted toreceive the empty cars from the dumping unit and to lower the same to areceiving track beneath, said units being mounted for move ment along arunway.

8. In a multiple unit material handling apparatus, a dumping unitcomprising a structure with an elevated cradle adapted to receive loadedcars and. to be turned to dump the contents therefrom, an e evating unitat one end of the dumping unit and comprising a structure having aplatform movable up and down in the structure and adapted to elevateloaded cars to substantially the level of the dumper cradle, and alowering unit at the opposite end of the dumping unit, and comprising astructure with a platform movable up and down there in and adapted toreceive the empty cars from the dumping unit and to lower the same to areceiving track ben ath, said units being coupled together, and beingprovided with wheeled trucks by which they may be moved simultaneouslyalong a runway.

9. A boat loading apparatus con'iprising a traveling supportingstructure with receptacles on opposite sides thereof, each having aconveying and distributing mechanism by which material may be dischargedinto a boat, and a rolling cradle positioned between the receptacles andadapted to receive a loaded car and to be rolled in either direction todump the contents therefrom into the receptacles.

10. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising astructure having a cradle adapted to receive'loaded cars and to beturned in either direction so as to dump the contents therefrom ateither side of the structure, in combination with an elevator having amovable platform for lifting loaded cars one at a time from a track upto substantially the level of the cradle, and devices for transferringloaded cars onto the platform of the elevator, and from the platform ofthe elevator onto the cradle of the dumper.

11. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising astructure having a cradle adapted to receive loaded cars and to berolled so as to dump the contents there-' from, in (.Oilll'lllliltlOllwith an elevator having a platform for lifting the loaded cars one at atime from a track up to substan tially the level of the cradle, devicesfor transferring loaded cars onto the platform of the elevator, and fromthe platform of the elevator onto the cradle of the dumper, and alowering device having a platform for receiving the empty cars and forlowering them to a discharge track beneath.

12. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising asupporting structure having material receiving means at 0pposite sidesthereof, and a rolling cradle adapted to be rolled in either directionfrom mid position, an elevating device for loaded cars at one end of thedumper, and a low ering device for empty cars at the opposite end of thedumper.

18. In a material handling apparatus, a. car dumper comprising asupporting structure having material receiving means at opposite sidesthereof, a rolling cradle adapted to be rolled in either direction fromcentral position, an elevating device for loaded cars at one end of thedumper, and a lowering device for empty cars at the opposite end of thedumper, each of said devices comprising a guideway and a platformmovable up and down along the guideway.

14. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising asupporting structure having material receiving means at opposite sidesthereof, a rolling cradle adapted to be rolled in either direction fromcentral position, an elevating device for loaded cars at one end of thedumper, and a lowering device for empty cars at the opposite end of thedumper, each of said devices coniprising a guideway and a platformmovable up and down along the guideway, the guideway for said elevatingand lowering devices being relatively inclined so that the empty carsmay be lowered to a track laterally displaced from that from which theloaded cars are elevated.

15. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising asupporting structure having material receiving means at opposite sidesthereof, and a rolling cradle adapted to be rolled in either directionfrom car receiving position, an elevating device for loaded cars at oneend of the dumper, and a lowering device for empty cars at the oppositeend of the d'umper, the dumper and the elevating and lowering devicesbeing in the form of separate units.

16. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising asupporting struc ture having material receiving means at opposite sidesthereof, a rolling cradle adapted to be rolled in either direction fromcar receiving position, an elevating device for loaded cars at one endof the dumper, and a lowering device for empty cars at the opposite endof the dumper, the dumper and the elevating and lowering devices beingin the form of separate units with connecting tracks by which oars, maybe transferred from the elevating device to the cradle of the dumper,and from the latter to the lowering device.

17. In a material handling apparatus, a car dumper comprising asupporting structure having material receiving means at opposit-e sidesthereof, a rolling cradle adapted to b rolled in either direction fromcar receiving position, an elevating device for loaded cars at one endof the dumper, and a lowering device for empty cars at the opposite endof the dumper, the dumper and the elevating and lowering devices beingin the form of units connected together and provided with wheeled trucksadapted to move along a runway.

18. The combination with a traveling structure having an elevated cardumping cradle, of a second traveling structure having'car elevatingmeans thereon, and means whereby cars may be transferred from saidelevating means to said cradle.

19. The combination with a traveling structure having an elevated cardumping cradle, of a second traveling structure having car elevatingmeans thereon, a' third traveling structure having car lowering meansthereon, and means whereby cars may be transferred from the elevatingmeans to the cradle and from the cradle to the lowering means.

20. In a material handling apparatus, a plurality of travelingstructures mounted upon a trackway, one of said structures havin anelevated car dumping cradle, the ot er of said structures having carelevating means thereon, and means whereby cars may be transferred fromsaid elevating means to said cradle.

21. In a material handling apparatus, three traveling structures mountedupon a trackway, the intermediate structure having an elevated cardumping cradle thereon, one of the end structures having car elevatingmeans thereon, the other of the end structures having car lowering meansthereon and means whereby cars may be transferred from said elevatingmeans to the cradle and from the'cradle to the lowering means.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

' ARTHUR F. CASE.

